great sin and the cause of all other sins for which the wrath of God abides on them and so of their covetousness and the argument whereby he thus convinceth them it is by glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing to them Job 16. 8-15 That is to say to the convincing them of their sinfulness he shews to men that Christ hath dyed for them and is risen again and hath received all fulness and compleatness into himself for them that they might run unto Jesus Christ with a relinquishing all other things Isa 55. 1-5 All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead namely from dead persons and things and particularly from all filthiness of the flesh and from this bitter root of covetousness of which the Apostle had been admonishing and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 3-5-14 And to those that turn at his reproofs and receive the Testimony God hath given of his Son he is pouring forth his spirit to them and making known his words He is giving to them the Spirit of wisdom to make them wise to inlighten the eyes of their understanding and revelation to reveal Christ further to them that they may count what hath been fore gainful to them as loss for Christ Yea that they might still count all things as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they may win him Phil. 3. 7-9 He is rendring his blood so precious before them in shewing the peace thereby made the victory thereby gotten the righteousness thereby compleated the eternal redemption thereby obtained the new Testament and everlasting covenant thereby sealed and confirmed that he is thereby still and further powerfully redeeming them from their vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Rev. 5. 9. with chap. 14. 3 4. He gives himself unto them and with himself all things to deliver them from this present evil world 1 Cor. 3. 21-23 Gal. 1. 4. and thus is he deading them to the things here below crucifying them to the world Rom. 6. 2 3. Gal. 6. 14. raising their affections to things above Col. 2. 9-12 with 3. 1 2. strengthning them to have their conversation in Heaven their minds hearts and affections there and they set to promote the things thereof even while they may according to the instructions of his grace be exercised as to the outward man in the work of their Callings and assuring them he will never forsake them in having their conversation without covetousness 2. He is also the great and onely Mediator between God and Men making intercession for transgressors that they might be saved from their sins and so from this iniquity of their covetousness and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4 5. otherwise men that have added rebellion unto their sin could have no opportunity for being washed without which they shall have no part with Christ but now through his daily presenting himself in the vertues of his sacrifice offered once for all patience and forbearance is exercised and space of repentance vouchsafed to rebellions ones that the Lord God may dwell amongst them and all this day of his patience he is vouchsafing means and stretching out his hand to them that are greedy of gain that they in hearing his words might turn at his reproof Psal 68. 18. Prov. 1. 19-23 24. Isa 65. 2. Rev. 2. 20 21. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away in his present mediation the sins of the world Joh. 1. 29. and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. He is praying Father forgive them as Luk. 23. 34. Lord let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it Luc. 13. 7 8. and while he thus intercedes the Father hears him and it is an acceptable time 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. the long-suffering of the Lord is and is to be accounted salvation his end herein being that men might come to repentance and be saved Isa 53. 10-12 2 Pet. 3. 9. 15. Act. 14. 17. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And in an especial manner he is mediating for those that come God by him and is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. without which he were not able he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 15. he is taking away and so covering their sins that God may be patient to them while they continue in them that they may have space vouchsafed to come to the fountain prepared and opened for washing and cleansing and that the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ may be given to them continually that through that knowledge they might flee from the pollutions of the world and in confessing their sins and turning to him he is forgiving them in Heaven and making them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins and so mediating the new Testament in his blood that they may be cared for to the end they may seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness he is their Advocate who is also the daily and standing propitiation for their sins to teach them what to pray for as they ought and how to pray to hear their prayers to grant their requests and fulfil the desires of their heart to manage their matters to wash and cleanse them in his blood to subdue their iniquities fight their battels supply their wants and perfect what concerns them He is a Sun and sheild and will give grace and glory and no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly Joh. 2. 1 2. Psal 84. 11 12. 3. To this end that those that hear the word may be doers of it and so take heed and beware of covetousness he is setting before us the things to come at the appearing of Christ and in his kingdom and these are proposed to and set before men generally in the scriptures of truth and of great usefulness to those that believe the Testimony of Jesus and are looking to the end from the beginning to strengthen them to have their conversation without carefulness and covetousness As to say 1. He hath prepared a kingdom for them that receive his grace to purpose even to the saving of their souls He will raise them again that sleep in Jesus first and change the surviving believers and they together shall appear in glory when Christ who is our life shall appear in his glory they are now kings and priests unto God and shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. and 20. 4-6 the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high Dan. 7. 27. they shall sit with Christ in his throne Rev. 3. 21.
judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. inherit the earth Psal 37. 9-11 have power over the nations and rule them with a rod of iron Rev. 2. 26 27. and then compleatly bear the Image of the Heavenly in their bodies which shall be fashioned into the likeness of his glorious body In their spirits injoying the harvest of all blessing of which they have now but a first fruits In that dominion and rule that shall be given them when he shall make new heavens and a new earth 1 Cor. 15. 49. in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and heires according to promise and so heyres of the world to come Rom. 4. 13. Heb. 2. 5. and shall injoy the heavenly Canaan which was given to Abraham and his seed by an everlasting covenant the which he hath not yet possessed God gave him none inheritance in it no not so much as to set his foot on yet he promised he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him Act. 7 5. and faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it This everlasting covenant being confirmed by the blood of Jesus who is brought again from the dead and alive for evermore being the great shepherd of the sheep and Mediator of the new Testament that the called may recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. and 13. 20. and blessed is he that believeth for there shall be a performance of the things that are spoken Christ himself as raised from the dead being the foundation and ground of it and he as given to us in the Gospel and by faith received is that in which God makes with us and gives us assureance of the everlasting covenant Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. â—4 Now this blessed hope which is declared to us in the word of the truth of the Gospel is very powerful as viewed in the Cross of Christ to deliver us from this present evil world we are saved by hope from our sins and so from loving and lusting after this World Hence frequently the Holy Ghost sets this before us to take off our hearts from the things here below and that we might be without carefulness and covetousness Thus our Savior in this Luk. 12. takes occasion from the miscarriages of this man who desired him to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him to warn his disciples of taking thought for their life what they shall eat c. And to seal home that admonition saith Feare not little flock For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom therefore sell that you have and give almes c. Luk. 12. 22-32-35 so the Apostle saith When Christ our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Mortifie therefore your members that are upon the earth covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 4 5. He that hath his hope in Christ that when he shall appear we shall be like him c. purifieth himself as he is pure As Christ is pure in his work washing and cleansing from desires of being now manifested and from minding and affecting the things of the world so such an one purifieth himself daily and continually he goes on so to do 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 how forcible was this blessed hope with the holy men in former times to redeem them from the earth they saw the promises afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them kissed and closed with them as very desireable and lovely and as the effect and consequent thereof confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth c. Heb. 11. 13. 16. And by faith Moses preferred the reproach of Christ before the treasures of Egypt and refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter For he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11 24-26 and if this had such efficacy on them when they saw the promises afar off would it not now rather crucifie us to the world and the World to us were we looking to those things not seen considering that the promise God made to the Fathers he hath fulfilled in that he hath raised Christ from the dead in whom all the promises of God are yea amen Act. 13. 32 33. 2 Cor. 1. 20. would it not make us willing to go forth unto him without the camp bearing his reproach For we have here no continuing City but have good reason to seek one to come Heb. 13. 13 14. Yea and especially now the grace of God doth instruct and move us to have our conversation without covetousness For the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet 4. 7. the time is short it remaineth that both they that have wives be as if they bad none as with respect to covetousness and carefulness in laying up for themselves and theirs here on earth and they that weep for any loss deprivation or disappointment in God's providences ordered to them as though they wept not and they that rejoyce for any gain advantage or increase as though they rejoyced not and they that buy that they may have some visible maintenance secured to them as though they possessed not c. For the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29-32 Wherefore gird we up the loynes of our mind from wandring in our desires after the things on the earth or setting our hearts upon them be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry now the just shall live by faith 1 Pet. 1. 13. Heb. 10. 37. 38 2 Per. 3. 11-14 2. And that we may take heed and beware of covetousness consider the terror of the Lord against those that continue therein as declared in the Gospel The Lord will be terrible unto them such as such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God let no man deceive us with vain words for because of this the wrath of God cometh continually upon the children of disobedience to the glorious Gospel which comes to redeem and deliver from the earth and from having fellowship with men in this unfruitful work 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. Eph. 5. 5-7 Col. 3. 5 6. The day of the Lord will come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Luk. 21. 34 35. The Lord will be very terrible to such in that day of wrath in that day shall a man cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold which they made each one for himself to worship to the Moles and to the Batts to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth Isa 2. 16. 21. Oh let us not by following lying vanities forsake our own mercies what will it profit a man to gain the whole
obtain his love no if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned Cant. 8. 7. Pro. 11. 4. Zeph. 1. 18. their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver in the day of the Lords Wrath they shall not satisfie their souls nor fill their bowels Ezek. 7. 19. But God hath freely provided better things for us in which is shewn that those uncertain riches have no glory as compared with the glory of this durable riches in Christ this man who hath made peace for us and is our peace is more precious than fine gold than the golden wedge of Ophir Isa 13. 12. He is so in himself and to them that believe he is precious this is that treasure hid in a field the which when a man hath found he hideth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyes that field counts all as dung that he may win him and be found in him Math. 13. 44-46 Phil. 3. 7-9 How powerful would the consideration hereof be to ingage to set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth Col. 3. 1 2. Considering also that as there is such an excellency in those riches which the Lamb hath worthily received because he was slain Rev. 5. 12. so he is possessed of them for us even for us mankind hence all are called upon to come to the Waters even every one that thirsteth not onely those that are gracious thirsters and who thirst after more from the tastes they have forehad of the graciousness of the Lord but such also as are seeking refreshing where it is not and so are reproved for laboring for what is not bread and spending their money for what profits not Isa 55. 1-6 7. Yea our Savior on this ground because all things are delivered to him of the Father invites all that labor and are heavy laden to come to him and he would give them rest in which he signifies that they were such as had not yet rest though they labor'd for it and therefore they were not laboring for it or seeking it where it was and yet he graciously calls them Math. 11. 27 28. and instructs those that were laboring for the meat that perisheth to labor for that which indures to eternal life Joh. 6. 27. as intimating this meat was prepared for them and indeed the bread which he gives is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world Joh. 6. 51. so that also in seeking after this he will give it unto them Pro. 2. 1-6 As he hath obtained all into himself that are excellent for mankind so he hath given unto us assurance in his great and precious promises confirmed by his blood that every one that asketh shall receive Math. 7. 7 8. and such incouragement he hath not given us that in laboring to be rich he will grant our desire herein yea in mercy he may so disappoint and befool us that we may not find the life of our hands But if any lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally to all men and upbraids not and it shall be given him Jam. 1. 5. were this provision in Christ never so satisfying and inriching as it is infinitely so yet while men are ignorant that it is prepared for them before they come and whether they come or no and sure to be had in seeking after it they content themselves with their husks rather than to run at such an uncertainty for such things as are not seen that message which comes to men by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet Pro. 26. 6. it hinders them and takes off their affections and pursuit after the things that are so infinitely worthy and more to be desired than gold yea than much fine gold while fools who consent not or come not up to wholesome words even the words of our Lord and Savior 1 Tim. 6. 4 5. and so know not whether Christ hath dyed for those they declare their message to or whether God loves them or there be any better things certainly prepared for them in Christ before they seek and whether they seek or no and so sure to be had in seeking do yet exhort men to labor to know whether Christ dyed for them to labor for that meat which indureth to eternal life to get an interest in Christ to labor to repent and turn to God The things that are not seen though excellent yet are such as men naturally have no delight in or desire after and therefore the Holy Ghost not onely commends them to us as those things that are principal and most desireable but also assures men that all things are ready for them the bread is prepared and wine mingled Math. 22. 4 8. Pro. 9. 1-5 Isa 55. 1 4-6 and affirms that those that follow lying vanities forsake their own mercies loose their own souls deny the Lord that bought them Jona 2. 8. Math. 16. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 1. and that in coming to Christ as God is drawing them they shall not be ashamed of their hope That so men may be incouraged upon principles of certainty and truth to seek the Lord while he may be found it was the confideration that there was bread enough in his Fathers house and to spare that made the Prodigal resolve to return to him and no longer expose himself to perish with hunger Luk. 15. 17 18. This branch of the Testimony of Jesus the Apostle deliver'd first of all unto the Corinthians while they were some of them thieves covetous c. to wit that Christ dyed for their sins and was buried and rose again the third day c. to redeem them from this iniquity and it was powerful for by it they were saved c. Compare 1 Cor 6. 10. 11. with Chap. 15. 1-3 Yea 4. He hath made such provision in his great and precious promises which are all confirmed in the blood of Christ and sure to all the seed forgiving to us whatsoever is good for us in and to to our seeking after him as is powerful as viewed in the Cross of Christ to preserve us from covetousness Jesus Christ who was for a little while made lower than the Angels that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man is now crowned with glory and honour and he hath not onely received all spiritual blessings in Heavenly things such as pardon righteousness wisedom eternal life but God hath given him dominion over the works of his hands and hath put all things under his feet though yet we see not all things put under him This was contained in the loss of the first publick man that having sinned he deprived himself of the glory of God and so of that dominion which God gave him over the works of his hands but now Jesus Christ hath restored that which he took not away Psal 8. 4-8 with Heb. 2. 7 8. The Earth is the